The Sunday Times - UK (2021-11-14)

Cruise Plan ahead

Visit the Hungarian c

staff. That leaves you free to head for

martinis in the Crow’s Nest or a cabaret

in the Limelight Club. This springtime

cruise visits Gijon, La Coruña, Bilbao

and Cherbourg. Also there won’t be

any airport stress because you sail

from Southampton.

Details Seven nights’ full board

from £608pp, including tips,

departing on April 8 (pocruises.com)

FOR LOVERS OF

WINTER SUN

The Gulf is a good bet for guaranteed

sunshine, and it’s a great destination

for first-time cruisers because the

distances between the ports are short.

A sailing here is also great value

because life on shore in glitzy spots

such as Dubai can be expensive. The

new MSC Virtuosa — as glittering on

board as the desert cities to which it sails —

visits Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Dammam in

Saudi Arabia on a seven-night jaunt from

Doha. You’ll also have a day at Sir Bani

Yas, a desert island with water sports

and a nature reserve.

Details Seven nights’ full board

from £999pp, including flights

and crew tips, departing on

February 3 (msccruises.com)

ON BOARD

FOR ROMANTICS

A sailing with Star Clippers is the way

to convince a reluctant cruiser that life

at sea can be adventurous yet dreamily

romantic. The 170-passenger Star Flyer

potters between sleepy Greek islands,

mainly propelled by 36,000 sq ft of

billowing sails. Laze in the giant nets

strung beneath the bowsprit, try your

hand at mast-climbing and head to the

deck at sunset, glass in hand, as the

sails creak above the mast and the ship

sets off into the night. This voyage

from Athens visits Dikili in Turkey,

Lemnos, Skiathos, Skopelos (of

Mamma Mia! fame) and Poros.

Details Seven nights’ full board

from £1,760pp, departing on June 4

(starclippers.co.uk). Fly to Athens

FOR NIGHT OWLS

If you associate cruise ship nightlife

with dodgy dad dancing, Virgin Voyages

is here to show you otherwise. High-

energy entertainment, private karaoke

rooms and cool, double-height nightclubs

are luring a younger crowd to the waves.

A Korean barbecue, drag queen-hosted

brunches and an onboard tattoo parlour

stretch the boundaries of traditional

cruising even further. Next summer’s

WELCOME

FOR AURORA CHASERS

Norway-based Hurtigruten is so confident

that you’ll see the northern lights

on its winter expeditions that you will be

offered another cruise free of charge if

you don’t. Departing from Dover, you’ll

sail to the North Cape and back through

the dreamy half-light of the Arctic

winter, visiting snow-dusted destinations

including the Lofoten Islands, Bergen,

Alesund and Tromso, where there’s

a chance to try snowshoeing. Keep

a lookout skywards; the aurora can make

an appearance at any time.

Details Fourteen nights’ full board

from £3,899pp, including drinks

with meals, some activities and

an expedition jacket, departing

on January 26 (hurtigruten.co.uk)

FOR BUDGET

BUCKET-LISTERS

A transatlantic crossing on Cunard’s

Queen Mary 2, with its black-tie glamour

and tradition, is a bucket-list item for

many — but it’s surprisingly affordable.

You may have to sleep in a cosy cabin,

but you’re unlikely to care when you’re

spinning around a dancefloor in your

finery. The 3,150-nautical-mile crossing

takes seven nights, which pass in a whirl

of fine dining, promenade strolls and

afternoon teas. Before you know it you’re

gliding past the Statue of Liberty, the

Manhattan skyline unfurling ahead of you.

Details Seven nights’ full board from

£889pp, including flights, departing

on November 13 (cunard.com)

FOR NERVOUS SAILORS

If you’re concerned about your sea legs,

opt for a cruise that hugs the coast. These

new week-long meanders between the

Croatian ports of Opatija and Dubrovnik

on the petite MV Lady Eleganza are more

akin to being on your own yacht than

a cruise ship, with days ashore exploring

the gorgeous old towns of Sibenik, Split

and Korcula, and the waterfalls of the

Krka National Park. On three of the seven

days you’ll be free to head into town to

try the local restaurants.

Details Seven nights’ half-board from

£1,995pp, including flights, four dinners,

drinks with meals, tips and excursions,

departing on April 26 (aptouring.co.uk)

FOR TEENAGERS

Royal Caribbean is known for doing

family cruises well, and even stroppy

teenagers will be wowed by the new

6,988-passenger Wonder of the Seas.

Diversions include water slides, an ice

rink, surf simulators, a zip line and the

Ultimate Abyss slide, which involves

a hair-raising ten-deck drop. Teenagers

also have access to their own hangout,

with gaming, films and a nightclub, and

can graze all day on burgers, hot dogs

and pizza — although there are plenty

of healthier options too. En route you will

visit Naples, Barcelona, Palma, Marseilles

and La Spezia.

Details Seven nights’ full board from

£999pp, departing on August 4

(royalcaribbean.com). Fly to Rome

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES

If you have a little one the words “night

nursery” will no doubt be music to your

ears, and that’s exactly what you can

expect next April on P&O Cruises’

Britannia. That means you can have

date night every night — if you have the

energy. The superb children’s clubs on

board include a free night nursery for

under-fours supervised by qualified

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